Chapter 2 - Scientific Inquiry Flashcards
What is the scientific method
- Recognition of a problem
- Collection of information
- Making a hypothesis
- Testing a hypothesis - or a prediction made from it
* if hypothesis is disproved then make new one and start again - Collection of data - new questions to be answered
- Make a conclusion
What is a theory
When There is enough evidence supporting the hypothesis is collected and there is no evidence against the hypothesis, it becomes a theory
What is the independence variable
Dependent variable
Controlled variable
Uncontrolled variable
A variable is any factor that may change during an experiment
Independent Variable is the factor that is being investigated - deliberakey changes to determine its effects
Dependent variable - factor that changes in response to the changes in response to the changes made to the independent variable
Controlled variable are the factors kept the same for both the control and experiment group
Uncontrolled variables are variables that were not kept the same for both groups in an experiment - may have been overlooked or may be impossible to control
What is a fair test
An experiment involving an experimental group and an appropriate control group is called a fair test
What is human error?
human error is imply a mistake due to the imperfectness of humans.
It is not considered an experimental error because it because they can be avoided with sufficient care and checking.
eg spilling something before measuring
What is random error?
Random errors are unpredictable errors that can occur in all experiments.
They occur because no measurement can be taken with absolute precision.
However it can be deduced by taking several measurements and averaging them.
What is systematic error?
Systematic error occurs because of the way in which an experiment is designed.
It either too high or low
only solution is to change the procedure of experiment.
what is ethics and ethical behaviour?
Ethics is a set of moral principles and values.
Ethical behaviour is behaviors that conforms to the principled and values of ethics.
an ethics committees examine proposals for research involving humans and is the proposed investigation satisfies ethical standards, give approval to go ahead.
What are some ethical principles an investigation must satisfy?
- VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION - people should not be pressured into taking part in the research.
- INFORMED CONSENT - the participants should fully be informed about the objectives of the research, the procedures to be followed, any possible risks and the potential benefits, consent (in writing) should only be sought after all information has been given
- RISK OF HARM - for some research such as testing new drugs, it is difficult to ensure that there is no risk of harm that participants will be harmed, but the possibility of should be minimised and the relationship between the risks and the benefit should be carefully assessed.
- CONFIDENTIALITY - procedures need to be adopted to ensure that the identities of the participants will not be revealed except to people directly involved in the study.
- ANONYMITY - this is a stronger guarantee of privacy than confidentiality: the participants in the study remain anonymous, even to the researchers. Because of the nature of some research, anonymity may not be possible.
What is a placebo?
a placebo is an inactive substance that looks like the drug or medication.
- exact same size, shape, amount ect
Subjects do not know whether they are consuming the real or ‘dummy’ drug.
The dummy treatment does not just have to be a drug, it can also be nasal spray, skin patch, special diet or physical therapy. The important thing Is that the subject believes they are experiencing the same trail as everyone else.
What is the placebo effect?
Patients who are given a placebo often show an improvement in their condition even though the substance is inactive. = PLACEBO EFFECT
What are blind experiments?
Blind experiments are usually when the subjects do not know if they are receiving a placebo or the real treatment.
A double blind experiment is when both the subject and researcher knows.
What are the different types of graphs?
Line graph - For decay or growth
Bar or column graphs - represent data by the rectangles of equal width; indicates the quantity so various quantities can be compared.
Histogram - often used to show frequencies.
What is Scientific Model
a scientific model is a simplified representation of an idea or a process.
